The Magnolia gazette., 1887-12-24


he answered. "1he widder III expect inc to
settle up his affars, more or less.n
Ted looked at Nan with a grimaee or Mil
utterable delights IL tha father had seen it
il Is doubtful whether duty even could haye
urged him from home, certainly moi without
administering a spanking an round
"Get my things readyas soon as you can, =
he resumed, 'for / want 10 catch the three
O'clock train, sure, aud you, Ted, get tho
hoss harnessed sost 70 take me % the
depot.n
"Yess'r," replied ral; no danger but
that Ted would ID his share, tud Dc Oh time,
too.
Nan was on hard, lilte j Iacli.uthe-bo
TO spring At every eall am bring the soap
and thetowel, the blaeAiug pfuah;ud whisls
broom for Joseph lle4f0rd loved 10 be
waited on, and his toilet 60 Z Journey, long
or short, was the signal ir d scries of
gymnastics, participated ID BIZ the whole
family.
Halfpast two came, and Doh was AZ the
door, and Ted, with q very unbecomng
shade q happiness on his countenance, held
the reins.
"Youll want some money s'poseln said
Mr.. Rexford, graciouHly, for him, as he
drew on his ovcrcout. "There's five dol
lars,n and he passed the precious morsel
out from roll Of grecnbaefs, ginRerly he
was not poor man, by any meane, aud
could have given her twenty-five Just Bs
easily.
" Yes, Joseph she replied, meekly, ~
she tucked away the bin she did moi intend
he should ever see IL again, or an exhaust
i've report Of tho uses mGdo of II, either.
Wall, good bye, Jane, fhe drew on his
glovesl don't let the Young ones run over
you while I'm gonrn
"No, Joseph She replied, demureiy,
with an inward smile
He went out; there was no silly demon
stration Of affection at parting "A kiss from
those storm lips would have been an aston
ishinent that the family would not have re-
covered from IN week and, getting into
the waiting sleigh, old Doll moved away
Nan turned a somersault; she was a fine.
loving child, and would have been as happy
as lark, under favorable circumstances.
"Oh, goody, goody goodyln she ex-
claimed, IN o glad soliloquy.
"Hush, Nannie, said the mother, re-
proviugly though in her secret heart sAe
could not blamo the child for the ebunitan.
Ted returned in due time, and the de.
parture was an assured thing, and the boy
| already held up bis head with an accession
Of selfrespect, as he TOOK his place as man
Of the house One week was only short
time 10 plan ia, but iudicious effort can ac-
complish much IN even 0 weeks time, and
Mrs. Rexfords plans were chiefly in the
limo Of a merry-Inaking, such one as thay
had never been allowed to have.
Her FIRST move was letter to sister.
living twenty miles away, With an Invitation
10 spend Christmas.
A visit from Aunt Nan was rare treat
to the children az any tune, one which they
rarely enjoyed. however, for Aunt Nan and
| Joseph Kexford were not congenial spirits,
she not being able 10 bottle up her indignant
wrath when he exercised his peculiar GIFT
of government in her presence; be not
| relishing her 'imeddlin',' r as he designated
her rather free use Of her tongue Oh coca
sions, and so she wisely concluded that il
was best 70 see as little OF the domestic
economy as possible, and kept away, TO Mrs.
Rexford's mingled GRIEF aud relief
Teddy's heart, in the meantime, was filed
with great longing; he wanted to make
the patient little mother, whom he loved
with a tender, chiyalrous devotion, Christ
mas present.
In the thirteed years OF his life be had no
remembrance Of her receiving Christmas
gift, and he was in brown study the great
er part Of his time, planning and cOntriying
some way 70 surprise her with a present,
but as yet no way had opened.
Harness Doll, Teddy, and wen 90 70 the
village today said the mother one morn
ing Teddy smiled knowingly as he hurried
away 70 obey her request, and in short
time they were on their way. Now you
mustn't follow me around, she said, with q
smile, as they neared the village; Ted an
swered her with q knowing, yet longing,
look. He wanted TO ask her for BIT Of